GOOD MORNING DALLAS

 Here are a few snapshots from a morning visit to Dallas with my hubs after we dropped off our friend at the DFW airport.  I charged my camera battery but forgot the memory card so these pics are via iPhone + RadLab.  

 

 

 Breakfast date at Oddfellows in the Bishop Arts District. 

 

 Coffee in Uptown (that sounds like I know a little something about Dallas, but I'm just good at reading maps).  Oh and the unofficial DFW search for cupcakes to replace my favorite Curl's Cupcakes might have just have ended at Society Bakery.

Frolic: Saturday in Dallas

Meet Jess: My bestie from college and fellow Texas dweller.  

Our word for adventuring in college became known as frolicking.  For example, our current DFW frolics include: window shopping, shopping shopping, finding cupcakes that can live up to Curl's Cupcakes, purchasing stationary and school supplies (even when we aren't in school), planning parties, finding treasures, going on adventures to the city, finding the perfect gift, exploring local shops, and having the occasional creative post-work dinner/chat over Chick-fil-a nuggets and Panda Express fried rice (well just once).

After a Saturday brunch with friends:

(mostly inspired by Best of Dallas @ Today's Letters):

Lula B.'s East: funky treasures and vintage goodies

We Are 1976: prints, paper goods, gifts

The Pearl Cup: Pearl Cup Latte, please!

Milk & Honey: Clothing & accessories (local shop like Anthropologie)

The Velvet Taco: Take home tacos for our hubbies

DALLAS BRUNCH | SMOKE

On my first visit to SMOKE in Dallas, TX for brunch with friends, I got a classic brisket sandwich. 

Maybe it was the aroma that greeted us when we entered,
the fact that I feel obligated to eat something smoked at a restaurant named SMOKE,
or that I read that Chef Tim Byres uses coffee in his recipe
...and coffee is never a bad thing.

I also sampled Kerri's cheese grits...

...and Jess's light and fluffy homemade ricotta heavy-handed lemon blueberry pancakes 

with apricots and cream.  Because it's just what good friends do.

I think it looks and feels like SMOKE has a little bit of the eclectic Austin vibe in the big D.

But better than all the fun details and yummy food,

 I got to meet this precious little guy and visit with friends on a rainy Saturday!

  

Date Night: Switchfoot & Salsa

Last month, we went to Dallas for a nice Monday night Switchfoot rock show.  The last time we saw Switchfoot was on a date at Louisiana Tech during our freshmen year of college.  

I left feeling inspired by the songs of hope, joy, perseverance, and truth.  The new Vice Verses album was on replay for our drive home.  

   

this was soon after i had a starstruck moment sighting of tim foreman across the street

jon foreman singing his little heart out and an excerpt from one of my new fav songs.

i found a live video of it here...

This body's not my own
This world is not my own
But I still can hear the sound
Of my heart beating out

And on the final day I die
I want to hold my head up high
I want to tell You that I tried
To live it like a song

And when I reach the other side
I want to look You in the eye
And know that I've arrived 
In a world where I belong

from 'Where I Belong' 

Switchfoot

We ate at Luna De Noche in walking distance to House of Blues.   We both tried different house enchiladas.  I especially enjoyed the spicy salsa (or 'hot sauce' as Texans like to call it)  A few weeks ago I tried out the PW's salsa recipe. It was Brian Crain approved because I'm pretty sure he took out the whole batch in a day.  My only adjustments...more garlic and jalapeno next time!

the food processor doing it's thing!

fresh salsa just needs the perfect chips and a friend named queso (white queso not velvetta people)

this is a mixture of monterey jack cheese, half and half, and green chiles 

none of that orange queso in here! almost as good as chile verde! 

we had quite the mexican street taco feast for two using leftover pot roast 

what a handsome hubs :) 

Recipes:

• Pioneer Woman Restaurant Style Salsa 

Ingredients

• 1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
• 2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)
• 1/4 cup Chopped Onion
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin
• 1/4 teaspoon Sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 1/2 cup Cilantro (more To Taste!)
• 1/2 whole Lime Juice

Instructions: Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Pulse all the ingredients.  Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.

• Queso Blanco (...white cheese dip)

Ingredients

• 4 to 8 oz. shredded monterey jack cheese
• small can of green chiles 
• pinch of cumin 
• half-and-half dairy  

Instructions: Melt ingredients over a double boiler, adding half and half to reach desired consistency!